Affordable Movers, Michael Martin rip-off! Nashville Tennessee

On 8/9/04 I contracted with Affordable Movers (Michael Martin-Owner), to relocate my household from Nashville, Tn to Goodlettsville, Tn (approx 20 miles). I had quotes from several reputtable movers (ie: All My Sons, 2 Men and a Truck, Bekins, Paul Arpin, etc) and all of their quotes were comparable. They could move a 3 bedroom apartment in 5-6 hours (2 man crew) or 4-5 hours (3-man crew). Their quoted hourly rate was $94.00/hr-2 man crew, or $118.00/hr-3 man crew. All had a minimum 1 hour travel charge.

Michael Martin of Affordable Movers originally quoted the same hourly rates... several days later, he called me back with a more "competitive" rate. He the quoted me a rate of $79.00/hr cash or credit card. This included the discounted "Senior Rate Adjustment". And of course "sight unseen the move shouldn't take longer than all of the previously quoted 6 hours-MAX. This was however solely based on the amount of "stuff" I had. Of course, I was excited, not knowing this should have been my first clue to run as fast and as far as I could because I was about to be ripped off.

The 2 young men arrived at 8:20AM on the morning of 8/9/04. They were slow and unprofessional. They would move 1 item and rest. I am suggesting that Affordable Movers "goudged and inflated" the number of hours required to perform my move. All I wanted was a fair, honest, and reasonable accounting of the hours. They took 11-1/2 hours to perform this move and escalated the expected estimate of $590.00 to $1008.00. Then changed th original agreement from $79/hr to $84/hr.

When I relocated to Nashville, TN from Riverside, CA, Bekins Van Lines packed, crated, and loaded a 3 bedroom home, yard/gardening tools, patio furniture, a 2-1/2 car garage (including an automobile) and prepared for transport in 7 hours. I had fewer boxes and articles to be moved than I came with. WHY DID IT TAKE THEM 11-1/2 HOURS?

Lillian
Goodlettsville, Tennessee
U.S.A.